Ramblings, observations, and lessons of a man who started curious, turned pirate, and is fully in love with water and sailing upon it. These are the records of a scoundrel who lives for wooden boats, music, rum, ale, and all things shiny.

BLUE LOU LOGAN: THE ROGUE'S CHOICE FOR PRESIDENT

Saturday, August 4, 2012

Tuesday was a long day.Normally I get up at 6:00, but this time my alarm was set for 5:00…and I was awake well before that.I got to work by 5:45.As Safety Captain for my department, I conducted the “Hazard Surveillance,” meaning that I made sure extension cords weren’t loose, ceiling tiles weren’t falling, and fire extinguishers were properly signed.Most everything was good, save 18 unapproved space heaters and, most remarkably, a toaster sitting on the floor, plugged in, under someone’s desk.Holy fire hazard, Batman!

Dan and Gomez ready the boat

After over ten hours at work—and almost 50 calls to me in Customer Service—I at least knew that I had the Duck Dodge that night.The theme was “Captain’s Choice,” meaning there was no centralized theme.Lots of crews didn’t dress up at all, including ours.Those who did, for instance, all wore neckties, decorated for a Mexican fiesta, or hung their entire hull with gold tinsel.There was even a man dressed up in a pink bunny suit slung in a harness halfway up the mast.

Says I...

"Blue Lou Logan" is my character, a fictional exile from 1715 Scotland turned pirate of the Caribbean. Lou is a real exile from the University of Washington Ethnomusicology program turned "Pirate Lou" at Seattle's Center for Wooden Boats. In between the fantasy and the reality is an ever-growing romance for working on real boats, learning real maritime history, brewing real ale and singing real shanties. This is the journey of "Lou," Lou, trusty companion "Keelhaul" Zanne, and not-so-little "Button" Bev. Join the crew, grab some grog and hold on tight, with both hands if you please...there be squalls ahead.